Predicting risk of major adverse cardiac events

ABSTRACT

Measurement of circulating ST2 and natriuretic peptide (e.g., NT-proBNP) concentrations is useful for the prognostic evaluation of subjects, in particular for the prediction of adverse clinical outcomes, e.g., mortality, transplantation, and heart failure.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/299,612, filed on Nov. 18, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/425,956, filed on Apr. 17, 2009 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,090,562), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/046,158, filed on Apr. 18, 2008, the entire contents of each of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to methods for predicting risk of major adverse cardiac events and detecting the presence of severe disease based on circulating levels of ST2 and natriuretic peptides (NP), e.g., NT-proBNP, alone or in combination with other biomarkers.

BACKGROUND

Clinical evaluation for determination of disease severity and risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), e.g., mortality due to heart failure, may not always be apparent. The decision whether to treat a subject aggressively or conservatively, or to admit the subject as an inpatient or to send them home, may sometimes be made solely on a physician's clinical assessment or “gut feeling” as to the individual's actual condition. A formula for determining a subject's likelihood of an adverse outcome, e.g., mortality, transplantation, and/or readmission, would significantly enhance the physician's ability to make informed treatment decisions, improve patient care and reduce overall healthcare costs.

SUMMARY

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the use of changes in serum levels of the biomarker ST2 (Growth Stimulation-Expressed Gene 2, also known as Interleukin 1 Receptor Like 1 (IL1RL-1)), in combination with levels of a natriuretic peptide (NP) such as the inactive N-terminal fragment of brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), to predict the likelihood of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), e.g., recurrence of the initial cardiac event (e.g., a second MI); angina; decompensation of heart failure; admission for cardiovascular disease (CVD); mortality due to CVD; or transplant, within a specific time period, e.g., 30 days, 3 or 6 months, or a year or more, or to detect the presence of severe disease (e.g., severe disease likely to require transplantation or other aggressive treatment). These methods can be used to predict clinical outcome, e.g., in patients hospitalized after an acute cardiac event.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein include monitoring changes in ST2 levels over time (e.g., an ST2 ratio) and determining an NP level, to provide diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of patients, e.g., patients with non-specific symptoms, e.g., acutely dyspneic patients and those with chest pain, or patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure. NPs include the forms of the brain natriuretic peptides, i.e., NT-proBNP, proBNP, and BNP, and the atrial natriuretic peptides, i.e., NT-proANP, proANP, and ANP. In preferred embodiments, the NP is NT-proBNP.

In some embodiments, the invention features methods for evaluating the risk of a MACE within a specific time period, e.g., 30, 60, 90, or 180 days (e.g., one, two, three, or six months), or one, two, or five years, for a subject. The methods can include determining ratios of ST2 and a level of an NP, e.g., NT-proBNP, and using those ratios and levels to determine risk of MACE, as described herein. Determining a ratio of ST2 can include obtaining at least two samples, e.g., samples of blood, serum, plasma, urine, or body tissue from the subject (both samples are from the same fluid or tissue, taken at two different time points); determining levels of ST2 in the samples; and dividing the biomarker levels of ST2 in the earlier samples into the levels of ST2 in the later sample, thereby arriving at a ratio of ST2. Such a ratio provides an indication of how the levels of ST2 are changing in the subject over time. Thus, in some embodiments, the methods include determining or obtaining a first ST2 level, e.g., a baseline level in a sample taken, e.g., at admission or at initiation of treatment, and a second ST2 level, e.g., in a sample taken some time later, e.g., one, two, three, four, or more days later. In addition, the methods will generally include determining or obtaining an NP level, e.g., an NT-proBNP level at least at the second time point, e.g., in a sample of blood, serum, plasma, urine, or body tissue from the subject.

In one aspect, the invention provides methods, e.g., computer-implemented methods, for evaluating the risk of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) for a subject within one year. The methods include determining a MACE risk score (MACERS) for a subject based upon, at least in part, the ratio of a second level of Growth Stimulation-Expressed Gene 2 (ST2) in the subject at a second time (ST2 T0) to a first level of ST2 in the subject at a first time (ST2 T1), in combination with a weighted logarithm of a level of a natriuretic peptide (NP) in the subject at the second time (NP T1), and comparing the MACERS to a reference MACERS; wherein the MACERS in comparison with the reference MACERS indicates the subject's risk of a MACE within one year.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein include the use of the following formula to determine a subject's risk of a MACE:

X=(ST2 T1/ST2 T0)+α ln(NP T1)

In preferred embodiments, the ST2 ratios and NT-proBNP levels, are used to determine a MACE risk score using the following formula:

X=(ST2 T1/ST2 T0)+α ln(NTproBNP T1)

In some embodiments, the coefficient alpha is 0.33.

In some embodiments, the subject's MACE risk score is compared to a reference MACE risk score (e.g., a threshold value). A comparison of the subject's MACE risk score versus the reference score indicates the subject's risk of a MACE within the specific time period. In some embodiments, the specific time period is one year.

In some embodiments, the reference MACE risk score represents the score in a subject or group of subjects who have a low risk of death within one year. In some embodiments, a subject MACE risk score that is greater than or equal to the reference MACE risk score indicates that the subject has an elevated, i.e., statistically significantly elevated, risk of death within one year. In some embodiments, the elevated risk of death is at least 20% higher, e.g., 30%, 40%, or 50% higher.

In some embodiments, the methods include determining a MACE risk score, and optionally selecting or modifying a treatment for the subject, based on the MACE risk score. For example, if the MACE risk score is more than a selected reference, then the subject has a high risk and should be treated more aggressively; if the subject is already being treated, then the subject is not responding favorably to the current treatment and a new treatment should be selected, i.e., an alternate treatment to which the patient may respond more favorably.

In some embodiments, the subject exhibits one or more non-specific symptoms, e.g., chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath (dyspnea), nausea, vomiting, eructation, sweating, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, and fainting. In some embodiments, the symptom is dyspnea or chest pain.

In some embodiments, the subject does not have a cardiovascular disorder. In various embodiments, the subject has a pulmonary disorder, e.g., acute infection (e.g., pneumonia), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary embolism.

In certain embodiments, the subject has a liver disorder, e.g., a liver disorder associated with chemotherapy, alcohol toxicity, or drug toxicity as determined by standard liver function laboratory tests.

In some embodiments, the methods further include determining the level of an adjunct (non-ST2, non-IL-33, non-NT-proBNP) biomarker, e.g., Troponin, CRP, D-dimers, BUN, albumin, liver function enzymes, measures of renal function, e.g., creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, or glomerular filtration rate, and/or bacterial endotoxin, in the sample; and comparing the level of the adjunct biomarker in the sample to a reference level of the adjunct biomarker. The level of the adjunct biomarker in the sample as compared to the reference, in combination with the MACE risk score in the sample as compared to a reference MACE risk score, indicates whether the subject has an elevated risk of death within a specific time period, and/or has a present severe disease. In some embodiments, the methods include determining a change in levels over time (e.g., a ratio) for the adjunct biomarker, by comparing a first level, e.g., a baseline level, to a second level, e.g., a level taken some time later, e.g., one, two, three, four, or more days later.

In some embodiments, the subject has a BMI of 25-29, a BMI of ≧30, or renal insufficiency, e.g., the subject is selected on the basis that they have a BMI of 25-29, a BMI of ≧30, or renal insufficiency.

In another aspect, the invention includes methods for evaluating a subject's condition over time, e.g., for evaluating the efficacy of a treatment in a subject. The methods include determining a first MACE risk score in a subject, based upon a ratio of a first, baseline level of ST2 and a second level of ST2 taken at a second time point, and a first level of an NP, e.g., NT-proBNP, taken at the second time point, to determine a first MACE risk score; and determining a second MACE risk score based upon a ratio of the first, baseline level of ST2 and a third ST2 level taken at a third time point, and a level of an NP, e.g., NT-proBNP, taken at the third time point, wherein the third time point is some time after the second time point, e.g., days, weeks, months, or years later. A comparison of the first and second MACE risk scores indicates whether the subject is declining, improving, or maintaining the same status, e.g., indicates the efficacy of the treatment in the subject. For example, a second MACE risk score that is lower than the first MACE risk score indicates that the treatment is effective.

As used herein, a “sample” includes any bodily fluid or tissue, e.g., one or more of blood, serum, plasma, urine, and body tissue. In certain embodiments, a sample is a serum, plasma, or blood sample.

An antibody that “binds specifically to” an antigen, binds preferentially to the antigen in a sample containing other proteins.

The methods and kits described herein have a number of advantages. For example, the methods can be used to determine whether a patient should be admitted or held as an inpatient for further assessment, regardless of whether a definitive diagnosis has been made. For example, the methods can be used for risk stratification of a given subject, e.g., to make decisions regarding the level of aggressiveness of treatment that is appropriate for the subject, based on their MACE risk score as determined by a method described herein. Better treatment decisions can lead to reduced morbidity and mortality, and better allocation of scarce health care resources. The methods described herein can be used to make general assessments as to whether a patient should be further tested to determine a specific diagnosis. The methods described herein can also be used for patient population risk stratification, e.g., to provide information about clinical performance or expected response to a therapeutic intervention. The methods described herein can be used regardless of the underlying cause or ultimate diagnosis, and therefore are not limited to specific indications.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Methods and materials are described herein for use in the present invention; other, suitable methods and materials known in the art can also be used. The materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

All publications, patent applications, patents, sequences, database entries, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In addition, the present application incorporates by reference the entire contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/789,169, and international patent application nos. PCT/US2007/067626, PCT/US2007/067914, and PCT/US2007/068024.

In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and Figures, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a line graph of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) score analysis of the algorithm combining the ST2 ratio and the week 2 NT-proBNP value.

FIG. 2 is a line graph of sensitivity, specificity and relative risk plotted as a function of the score.

FIG. 3 is a ROC curve for MACE risk score and events within 1 year.

FIG. 4A is a whisker box plot of MACE risk score and ST2 ratio for cardiac events within 1 year.

FIG. 4B is a Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve for events using MACE risk score at a threshold of 3.2.

FIG. 5 is a Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve for events using the ST2 ratio.

FIG. 6 is a Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve for events using NT-proBNP ratio at a threshold of 0.75.

FIG. 7 is a Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve for death or transplant within 1 year using ST2 ratio at a threshold of 0.85.

FIG. 8 is a Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve for death or transplant within 1 year using NT-proBNP ratio at a threshold of 0.70.

FIG. 9 is a ROC curve for Score and death or transplant within 1 year. Although ROC analysis identifies 3.5 as the optimal threshold, additional analysis confirms that the previously identified threshold of 3.2 provides better prognostic accuracy.

FIG. 10 is a Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve for death or transplant within 1 year using the MACE risk score at the threshold of 3.2.

FIG. 11 is a whisker box plot showing MACE risk score for events or no-events (death or transplant).

FIG. 12 is a whisker box plot showing ST2 ratio for events or no-events (death or transplant).

FIG. 13 is a whisker box plot showing NT-proBNP ratio for events or no-events (death or transplant).

FIG. 14 is a whisker and dot plot showing ST2 values by days.

FIG. 15 is a whisker and dot plot showing NT-proBNP values by day.

FIG. 16 is a whisker and dot plot showing BNP values by day.

FIG. 17 is a line graph showing the results of ROC analysis of ratio values for mortality within 90 days.

FIG. 18 is a line graph showing MACE risk formula ROC for mortality within 90 days.

FIG. 19 is a whisker box plot showing MACE risk formula score for mortality within 90 days.

FIG. 20 is a whisker box plot showing ST2 R L:F for mortality within 90 days.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Clinical evaluation of patients, particularly patients with non-specific symptoms such as dyspnea or chest pain, is often challenging. The results described herein provide evidence that MACE risk scores based on ST2 and NT-proBNP are useful in the prognostic evaluation of patients, regardless of the underlying cause of their disease. The MACE risk score is a powerful indicator of severe disease and imminent death, as demonstrated herein in several different populations.

Predicting MACE

Elevated concentrations of ST2 are markedly prognostic for death within one year, with a dramatic divergence in survival curves for those with elevated ST2 soon after presentation, regardless of the underlying diagnosis. As one example, there is a dramatic relationship between elevations of ST2 and the risk for mortality within one year following presentation with dyspnea. The relationship between ST2 and death in dyspneic patients was independent of diagnosis, and superseded all other biomarker predictors of mortality in this setting, including other markers of inflammation, myonecrosis, renal dysfunction, and most notably NT-proBNP, a marker recently described as having value for predicting death in this population (Januzzi et al., Arch. Intern. Med. 166(3):315-20 (2006)). Indeed, most of the mortality in the study was concentrated among subjects with elevated ST2 levels at presentation; however, the combination of an elevated ST2 and NT-proBNP was associated with the highest rates of death within one year.

Such a multi-marker approach for risk stratification has been generally proposed for patients with acute coronary syndromes (Sabatine et al., Circulation 105(15):1760-3 (2002)), but no such strategy has yet been proposed for the evaluation for the patient with non-specific symptoms such as undifferentiated dyspnea or general complaint of chest pain.

Determining Severity of Disease

Elevated MACE risk scores are correlated with the presence of severe disease in a subject, regardless of the underlying cause of the disease. As one example, in a population of patients presenting with chest pain, the highest scores were associated with an increased risk of adverse events, including transplantation, which are generally associated with the presence of severe disease.

Therefore, for undiagnosed subjects, the methods described herein can be used to determine how aggressively a diagnosis should be sought; a high ST2 level would indicate the presence of severe disease, and suggest that the subject should be treated as a high-risk case. For subjects with a known diagnosis, the methods described herein can be used to help determine the severity of the underlying pathology; again, a higher ST2 level is associated with more severe disease.

General Methodology—Determining a Subject's MACE Risk Score

In general, the methods described herein include evaluating circulating levels (e.g., levels in blood, serum, plasma, urine, or body tissue) of ST2 and NT-proBNP in a subject, e.g., a mammal, e.g., a human. These levels provide information regarding the subject's likelihood of experiencing an adverse outcome, e.g., mortality, e.g., within a specific time period, e.g., 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, one year, two years, three years, or five years. These levels also provide information regarding the severity of disease in the subject. In some embodiments, a level of ST2 is determined a first time (T0), e.g., at presentation, e.g., at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and/or 24 hours, and/or 1-3 or 1-7 days, after the onset of symptoms. Then levels of ST2 and NT-proBNP are determined a second time (T1); the second time point can be, e.g., at least 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, or 24 hours, 1-7 days, 1-14 days, or 2-14 days, e.g., up to 14 days, after the first time point. These levels are used to determine a MACE risk score, using the following formula:

X=(ST2 T1/ST2 T0)+α ln(NTproBNP T1)

The coefficient alpha is a weighting factor for the variable it acts on. In some embodiments, the coefficient alpha is between 0.25 and 0.5, e.g., about 3, e.g., 0.33.

Evaluating circulating levels of ST2 and NTpro-BNP in a subject typically includes obtaining a biological sample, e.g., serum, plasma or blood, from the subject. Levels of ST2 and NTpro-BNP in the sample can be determined by measuring levels of polypeptide in the sample, using methods known in the art and/or described herein, e.g., immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). For example, in some embodiments a monoclonal antibody is contacted with the sample; binding of the antibody is then detected and optionally quantified, and levels of the protein are determined based on levels of antibody binding. Alternatively, levels of ST2 and NTpro-BNP mRNA can be measured, again using methods known in the art and/or described herein, e.g., by quantitative PCR or Northern blotting analysis.

In some embodiments, the MACE risk score is calculated using a computing device, e.g., a personal computer.

Once a MACE risk score has been determined, the MACE risk score can be compared to a reference score. In some embodiments, the reference score will represent a threshold level, above which the subject has an increased risk of death, and/or has a severe disease. The reference score chosen may depend on the methodology used to measure the levels of ST2. For example, in some embodiments, where circulating levels of soluble ST2 are determined using an immunoassay, e.g., as described herein, the reference score is about 3, e.g., 3.2 or 3.5, and a score above that reference level indicates that the subject has an increased risk of death, and/or has a severe disease.

Where more than one MACE risk score has been determined as described herein, a change in the score indicates whether the subject has an increased or decreased risk of death. A score that increases means that the subject has an increasing risk of imminent death, e.g., an increasingly poor prognosis, and that a treatment is not working or should be changed or initiated. Scores that decrease over time indicate that the subject has a decreasing risk of imminent death, e.g., an increasingly positive prognosis, and can be indicative of the efficacy of a treatment, for example, and the treatment should be continued, or, if the score becomes low enough, possibly discontinued. As one example, increasing scores may indicate a need for more aggressive treatment or hospitalization (e.g., initial admission or hospitalization in a more acute setting, e.g., in an intensive care unit, or the use of telemetry or other methods for monitoring the subject's cardiac status), while decreasing scores may indicate the possibility of less aggressive treatment, a short hospitalization, or discharge. This information allows a treating physician to make more accurate treatment decisions; for example, the subject may be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, e.g., in an acute or critical care department

Additional testing can be performed, e.g., to determine the subject's actual condition. More aggressive treatment may be administered either before or after additional testing. For example, in the case of a suspected myocardial infarction (MI), the subject may be sent for more extensive imaging studies and/or cardiac catheterization.

In some embodiments, the methods include the use of additional diagnostic methods to identify underlying pathology. Any diagnostic methods known in the art can be used, and one of skill in the art will be able to select diagnostic methods that are appropriate for the subject's symptoms. In some embodiments, the methods described herein include other diagnostic methods in addition to or as an alternative to the measurement of other biomarkers, e.g., physical measurements of lung function or cardiac function as are known in the art.

For example, the methods described herein include determining a MACE risk score along with measuring one or more additional biomarkers that aid in the subject's diagnosis. As one example, for a subject who has chest pain or dyspnea, biomarkers indicative of cardiac disease can be measured, e.g., cardiac troponin (cTn), e.g., cTnI, BNP, and/or ANP; alternatively or in addition, biomarkers of pulmonary disease can be measured, e.g., D-dimers for pulmonary embolism. Thus, in subjects presenting with symptoms that include MI in their differential diagnoses, the methods can include measuring levels of, e.g., cTnI, BNP, or proBNP in addition to determining a MACE risk score, to determine whether the subject is having an MI. In subjects presenting with symptoms that include heart failure (HF) in their differential diagnoses, the methods can include measuring levels of BNP or proBNP in addition to determining a MACE risk score, to determine whether the subject is having HF. In subjects presenting with symptoms that include COPD in their differential diagnoses, the methods can include measuring lung function in addition to determining a MACE risk score, to determine whether the subject has COPD. One of skill in the art will appreciate that there are a number of additional diagnostic methods that can be applied, depending on the situation and the subject's condition. In some embodiments, the methods include measuring levels of BUN, and the presence of elevated BUN and elevated determining a MACE risk score places the subject in the highest risk category.

ST2

The ST2 gene is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family, whose protein product exists both as a trans-membrane form, as well as a soluble receptor that is detectable in serum (Kieser et al., FEBS Lett. 372(2-3):189-93 (1995); Kumar et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270(46):27905-13 (1995); Yanagisawa et al., FEBS Lett. 302(1):51-3 (1992); Kuroiwa et al., Hybridoma 19(2):151-9 (2000)). ST2 was recently described to be markedly up-regulated in an experimental model of heart failure (Weinberg et al., Circulation 106(23):2961-6 (2002)), and preliminary results suggest that ST2 concentrations may be elevated in those with chronic severe HF (Weinberg et al., Circulation 107(5):721-6 (2003)) as well as in those with acute myocardial infarction (MI) (Shimpo et al., Circulation 109(18):2186-90 (2004)).

The trans-membrane form of ST2 is thought to play a role in modulating responses of T helper type 2 cells (Lohning et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95(12):6930-5 (1998); Schmitz et al., Immunity 23(5):479-90 (2005)), and may play a role in development of tolerance in states of severe or chronic inflammation (Brint et al., Nat. Immunol. 5(4):373-9 (2004)), while the soluble form of ST2 is up-regulated in growth stimulated fibroblasts (Yanagisawa et al., 1992, supra). Experimental data suggest that the ST2 gene is markedly up-regulated in states of myocyte stretch (Weinberg et al., 2002, supra) in a manner analogous to the induction of the BNP gene (Bruneau et al., Cardiovasc. Res. 28(10):1519-25 (1994)).

Tominaga, FEBS Lett. 258:301-304 (1989), isolated murine genes that were specifically expressed by growth stimulation in BALB/c-3T3 cells; they termed one of these genes St2 (for Growth Stimulation-Expressed Gene 2). The St2 gene encodes two protein products: ST2, which is a soluble secreted form; and ST2L, a transmembrane receptor form that is very similar to the interleukin-1 receptors. The HUGO Nomenclature Committee designated the human homolog, the cloning of which was described in Tominaga et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1171:215-218 (1992), as Interleukin 1 Receptor-Like 1 (IL1RL1). The two terms are used interchangeably herein.

The mRNA sequence of the shorter, soluble isoform of human ST2 can be found at GenBank Acc. No. NM_(—)003856.2, and the polypeptide sequence is at GenBank Acc. No. NP_(—)003847.2; the mRNA sequence for the longer form of human ST2 is at GenBank Acc. No. NM_(—)016232.4; the polypeptide sequence is at GenBank Acc. No. NP_(—)057316.3. Additional information is available in the public databases at GeneID: 9173, MIM ID #601203, and UniGene No. Hs.66. In general, in the methods described herein, the soluble form of ST2 polypeptide is measured.

Methods for detecting and measuring ST2 are known in the art, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. Pub. Nos. 2003/0124624, 2004/0048286 and 2005/0130136, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Kits for measuring ST2 polypeptide are also commercially available, e.g., the ST2 ELISA Kit manufactured by Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. (MBL International Corp., Woburn, Mass.), no. 7638. In addition, devices for measuring ST2 and other biomarkers are described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2005/0250156.

Natriuretic Peptides

Natriuretic peptides are a family of vasoactive peptide hormones that act as balanced arterial and venous vasodilators, regulating natriuresis and diuresis. Circulating levels of these hormones are under investigation for use in enhancing diagnostic and prognostic assessment of patients with cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that circulating levels of NT-proBNP are increased in patients with acute MI and predict mortality (Talwar et al., Eur. Heart J. 21:1514-1521 (2000); Omland et al., Am. J. Cardiol. 76:230-235 (1995) Sabatine et al., J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 44:1988-1995 (2004), demonstrated a link between the severity of an acute ischemic insult and the circulating levels of BNP. Methods for measuring NT-proBNP are known in the art, see, e.g., Talwar et al., 2000, supra; Omland et al., 1995, supra; Sabatine et al., 2004, supra; Alehagen and Dahlström, “Can NT-proBNP predict risk of cardiovascular mortality within 10 years? Results from an epidemiological study of elderly patients with symptoms of heart failure,” Int J Cardiol. 2008 Apr. 11 [Epub ahead of print]; and Kaysak et al., Clin Chem. 54(4):747-51 (2008).

It is believed that, while the examples presented herein relate to NT-proBNP, any of the NPs can be used in the methods described herein. In some embodiments, more that one NP can be measured.

Other Biomarkers

The methods described herein can also include measuring levels of other biomarkers in addition to ST2 and an NP. Suitable biomarkers include troponin, CRP, IL-6, D-dimers, BUN, liver function enzymes, albumin, measures of renal function, e.g., creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, or glomerular filtration rate, and/or bacterial endotoxin. Methods for measuring these biomarkers are known in the art, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Pub. Nos. 2004/0048286 and 2005/0130136 to Lee et al.; Dhalla et al., Mol. Cell. Biochem. 87:85-92 (1989); Moe et al., Am. Heart. J. 139:587-95 (2000); Januzzi et al., Eur. Heart J. 27(3):330-7 (2006); Maisel et al., J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 44(6):1328-33 (2004); and Maisel et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 347(3):161-7 (2002), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Liver function enzymes include alanine transaminase (ALT); aspartate transaminase (AST); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and total bilirubin (TBIL).

In these embodiments, a MACE risk score and levels of one or more additional biomarkers are determined, and the information from the score and a comparison of the biomarkers with their respective reference levels provides additional information regarding the subject's risk of death and/or the presence of a severe disease in the subject, which may provide more accurate and specific information regarding the subject's risk. The levels can then be compared to a reference ratio that represents a threshold ratio above which the subject has an increased risk of death, and/or has a severe disease.

Selecting a Treatment—Aggressive Vs. Conservative

Once it has been determined that a subject has a MACE risk score above a predetermined reference score, the information can be used in a variety of ways. For example, if the subject has an elevated score, e.g., as compared to a reference level, a decision to treat aggressively can be made, and the subject can be, e.g., admitted to a hospital for treatment as an inpatient, e.g., in an acute or critical care department. Portable test kits could allow emergency medical personnel to evaluate a subject in the field, to determine whether they should be transported to the ED. Triage decisions, e.g., in an ED or other clinical setting, can also be made based on information provided by a method described herein. Those patients with high scores can be prioritized over those with lower scores.

The methods described herein also provide information regarding whether a subject is improving, e.g., responding to a treatment, e.g., whether a hospitalized subject has improved sufficiently to be discharged and followed on an outpatient basis. In general, these methods will include d determining a MACE risk score for the subject multiple times. A decrease in MACE risk score over time indicates that the subject is likely to be improving. The most recent MACE risk score can also be compared to a reference score, as described herein, to determine whether the subject has improved sufficiently to be discharged.

The subject may also be considered for inclusion in a clinical trial, e.g., of a treatment that carries a relatively high risk. The subject can be treated with a regimen that carries a relatively higher risk than would be considered appropriate for someone who had a lower risk of imminent MACE, e.g., a MACE within 30 days or within 1 year of presentation.

Beyond the clinical setting, information regarding a subject's MACE risk score can be used in other ways, e.g., for payment decisions by third party payors, or for setting medical or life insurance premiums by insurance providers. For example, a high MACE risk score, e.g., a score above a predetermined threshold score, may be used to decide to increase insurance premiums for the subject.

Patient Populations

The methods described herein are useful in a wide variety of clinical contexts. For example, the methods can be used for general population screening, including screening by doctors, e.g., in hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as the ED. As one example, a MACE risk score can be determined at any time, and if the MACE risk score is elevated, the physician can act appropriately.

Although the methods described herein can be used for any subject, at any time, they are particularly useful for those subjects for whom a diagnosis, or the severity of a condition, is difficult to determine. For example, such subjects may present with non-specific symptoms, e.g., symptoms that do not indicate a specific diagnosis. Non-specific symptoms include, but are not limited to, chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, eructation, sweating, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, and fainting. Each symptom can have varied etiology.

Chest Pain

Chest pain is the chief complaint in about 1 to 2 percent of outpatient visits, and although the cause is often noncardiac, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Therefore, distinguishing between serious and benign causes of chest pain is crucial. The methods described herein are useful in making this determination.

A subject presenting to the ED with chest pain may have esophageal pain, an ulcer, acute lung problems such as pulmonary embolus (PE) (potentially fatal), rupturing or dissecting aneurysm (highly lethal), gall bladder attack, pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart), angina pectoris (cardiac pain without damage), or an MI (potentially fatal). A precise diagnosis may be difficult to make immediately, but the decision whether to admit the subject or to treat them conservatively should generally be made immediately. If the methods described herein indicate that the subject has an increased risk of an adverse clinical outcome, e.g., imminent MACE or severe disease, then the decision can be made to treat the subject aggressively, to potentially prevent the adverse outcome.

Additional information about treatment and diagnosis of chest pain may be found, e.g., in Cayley, Am. Fam. Phys. 72(10):2012-2028 (2005).

Dyspnea

Dyspnea, or shortness of breath (also defined as abnormal or uncomfortable breathing), is a common symptom of subjects on presentation to the ED. The differential diagnosis for dyspnea includes four general categories: (1) cardiac, (2) pulmonary, (3) mixed cardiac or pulmonary, and (4) noncardiac or nonpulmonary.

Cardiac causes of dyspnea include right, left, or biventricular congestive heart failure with resultant systolic dysfunction, coronary artery disease, recent or remote myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, valvular dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy with resultant diastolic dysfunction, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, pericarditis, and arrhythmias.

Pulmonary causes include obstructive (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma) and restrictive processes (e.g., extrapulmonary causes such as obesity, spine or chest wall deformities, and intrinsic pulmonary pathology such as interstitial fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, granulomatous disease or collagen vascular disease).

Mixed cardiac and pulmonary disorders include COPD with pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale, deconditioning, pulmonary emboli, and trauma.

Noncardiac or nonpulmonary disorders include metabolic conditions such as anemia, diabetic ketoacidosis and other, less common causes of metabolic acidosis, pain in the chest wall or elsewhere in the body, and neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. Obstructive rhinolaryngeal problems include nasal obstruction due to polyps or septal deviation, enlarged tonsils, and supraglottic or subglottic airway stricture.

Dyspnea can also present as a somatic manifestation of psychiatric disorders, e.g., an anxiety disorder, with resultant hyperventilation.

Additional information regarding the evaluation and treatment of dyspnea can be found, e.g., in Morgan and Hodge, Am. Fam. Phys. 57(4):711-718 (1998).

Special Populations

Certain populations of subjects may benefit particularly from the methods described herein. These subjects include people for whom BNP or NT-proBNP alone is less useful, such as in those with impaired renal function (Anwaruddin et al., J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 47(1):91-7 (2006); McCullough et al., Am. J. Kidney Dis. 41(3):571-9 (2003)), or in those who are overweight (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25-29) or obese (BMI≧30) (Krauser et al., Am. Heart J. 149(4):744-50 (2005); McCord et al., Arch. Intern. Med. 164(20):2247-52 (2004)). It is known and accepted in the field that patients with a high BMI usually have levels of natriuretic peptide that are lower than expected relative to a normal body mass patient for the same level of disease; the exact mechanism for this phenomenon is not known. It has been shown that circulating levels of ST2 are not influenced by BMI, therefore, the determination of a MACE risk score is more useful than natriuretic peptide levels alone in subjects with high BMI. Thus, the methods described herein can include determining a subject's BMI, and if the subject is overweight or obese, selecting the patient for determination of a MACE risk score, as described herein.

EXAMPLES

The invention is further described in the following examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

Example 1 Derivation of a Formula Combining ST2 with NT-proBNP for MACE Risk Determination in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (HF)

Measurement of either ST2 or NT-proBNP at presentation or at time points during treatment or follow-up have been individually shown to be valuable for prognosis. It has also been determined that the strongest measurement for prognosis is the change in ST2 between two time points. In this analysis forty-eight (48) patients with established symptomatic HF attending two HF clinics with signs and symptoms of worsening HF were evaluated. Baseline (T0) and week 2 (T1) measurements of sST2 and amino-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations were obtained. Adverse cardiac events (death, admission for HF, and heart transplant) were reported in 56% of patients during the 1 year follow-up period. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values shown in Table 1 calculated for a series of measurements made in this data set illustrate this point when using all cardiac events as the outcome.

TABLE 1 Summary of ROC AUC values for each individual measurement and ratio values for events within 1 year AUC SE 95% CI ST2_T0 0.622 0.082 0.470 to 0.757 ST2_T1 0.583 0.0827 0.432 to 0.724 NTproBNP_T0 0.479 0.0845 0.333 to 0.628 NTproBNP_T1 0.619 0.081 0.467 to 0.755 ST2_R 0.772 0.0675 0.628 to 0.880 NTproBNP_R 0.717 0.0737 0.568 to 0.837 Using the ST2 ratio in a simple binary stratification approach we get the results shown in Table 2, in this case using the ROC optimal threshold value of 0.75.

TABLE 2 Summary of patient stratification for risk of cardiac events within 1 year using an ST2 ratio threshold of 0.75 ST2 Ratio median mean <0.75 ≧0.75 0.875 1.030 N 19 29 N Event 6 20 % Event 31.6%   69.0% PPV 69% NPV 68% RR 2.2 As can be seen in this Table the ROC optimal threshold is lower than either the median or the mean. However if a higher threshold, such as the median value is used, the relative risk decreases to 1.9 so for the purpose of this analysis the threshold of 0.75, which provides the highest prognostic accuracy, will be used.

In other studies (Januzzi et al., J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 50:607-613 (2007); Mueller et al., Clin. Chim. 54(4):752-756 (2008)) it has also been observed that there is a synergistic relationship between ST2 and NT-proBNP when used for risk stratification or prognosis. In an effort to both confirm that relationship in this cohort and to identify the most powerful method for using ST2 and NT-proBNP together various mathematical combinations were considered. Table 3 represents the best results obtained in a simple binary analysis where the change in ST2 represented as a ratio is combined with the NT-proBNP value at the second time point. The threshold of 0.75 for the ST2 ratio value was determined by ROC analysis, and verified subjectively, to be optimal and an NT-proBNP value of 1000 pg/ml is generally considered ideal for prognosis within a 1 year followup period.

TABLE 3 Summary of patient stratification using the ST2 Ratio and the week 2 NT-proBNP value, using thresholds of 0.75 for the ST2 ratio and 1000 pg/ml for NT-proBNP ST2 R & NTproBNP W2 ST2−, ST2−, ST2+, 0.75, 1000 NT− NT+ NT− ST2+, NT+ both− either+ N 4 15 4 25 4 44 N Event 0 6 2 18 0 26 % Event 0.0% 40.0% 50.0% 72.0% 0.0% 59.1% Although effective at identifying both the highest risk and lowest risk patients, the weakness in this approach is that there is a very small number of patients in the lowest risk group and a large percentage of patients in the indeterminate range.

To better define the functional utility of the ST2 ratio combined with an NT-proBNP value a formula was developed:

X=(ST2 T1/ST2 T0)+α ln(NTproBNP T1)

This formula was developed by evaluating the result as a function of ROC AUC for a range of coefficients associated with the NT-proBNP term. The result from this series of calculations is shown in FIG. 1.

The maximum AUC value was achieved at a coefficient for a of 0.33 resulting in the final equation being:

X=(ST2 T1/ST2 T0)+0.33 ln(NTproBNP T1)

Using this algorithm in a series of calculations comparing the sensitivity, specificity and relative risk (right side axis) we get the plot in FIG. 2.

In this plot the score value resulting in the maximum relative risk value is 3.2. ROC analysis of this data confirms that the optimal threshold value is 3.3, illustrated in FIG. 3. Also note that the AUC value using this score is 0.80 as compared to 0.77 for the ST2 ratio and 0.72 for the NT-proBNP ratio, which generated the next highest AUC values.

When this score is used, at the threshold value of 3.2, to stratify patients in this cohort who are at risk of events; admission, transplant or mortality, a clear distinction between low risk and high risk patients is achieved. These results are illustrated in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Summary of patient stratification for risk of adverse events within 1 year using a score cutpoint of 3.2 Score median mean <3.2 ≧3.2 3.55 3.71 N 17 31 N Event 3 23 % 17.6% 74.2% Event PPV 74.2% NPV 82.4% RR 4.2 Directly comparing these results with the results using the ST2 ratio alone, shown in Table 2, illustrates that by combining the ST2 ratio with an NT-proBNP value all of the relevant parameters representing assessment of risk prediction are stronger; PPV, NPV and RR.

For comparison the stratification results for the next strongest value, the NT-proBNP ratio is summarized in Table 5. The values using the NT-proBNP ratio are much lower than when the ST2 ratio is used or from the formula combining ST2 with NT-proBNP.

TABLE 5 Summary of patient stratification for risk of adverse events within 1 year using the NT-proBNP ratio NT-proBNP Ratio median mean <0.75 ≧0.75 0.74 0.83 N 24 24 N 10 16 Event % 41.7% 66.7% Event PPV 66.7% NPV 58.3% RR 1.1

TABLE 6 Comparison of ST2 Ratio and Score Values NTproBNP ST2 Ratio Ratio Score PPV 67% 69% 74% NPV 58% 68% 82% RR 1.1 2.2 4.2 The relative differences between the score and ST2 ratio values can also be represented graphically using whisker box plots, as shown in FIG. 4A. As expected, both groups had statistically significant resolution between the event and no event clusters, P=0.0004 for Score and P=0.0013 for ST2 ratio.

The distinction between the score generated from this formula and the ratio for ST2 values is also observed when analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. FIG. 4B shows the survival curve results for the formula score with a calculated hazard ratio of 5.93. Consistent with the previous calculations, FIG. 5 shows that this same analysis for the ST2 ratio had a hazard ratio of 2.72, which is similar to the value calculated for the NT-proBNP ratio of 2.39, as shown in FIG. 6.

The hazard ratios calculated from the Kaplan-Meier curves was consistent with the Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. Table 7 summarizes the hazard ratio (HR) values from both calculations for the three most informative measurements.

TABLE 7 Summary of hazard ratio values for risk of event at 1 year followup NT-proBNP CCD Score ST2 ratio ratio HR p HR p HR p K-M 5.93 0.0009 2.72 0.025 2.39 0.025 curve cox 6.07 0.003 2.73 0.03 2.12 0.059 This formula was also evaluated for accuracy in predicting the more definitive endpoints of death and/or transplant, as shown in Table 8.

TABLE 8 Summary of ROC AUC values for each individual measurement and ratio values for death or transplant within 1 year AUC SE 95% CI ST2_S0 0.625 0.0813 0.474 to 0.761 ST2_S2 0.521 0.0858 0.372 to 0.667 NTPROBNP_S0 0.564 0.086 0.414 to 0.707 NTPROBNPS2 0.679 0.0813 0.528 to 0.806 ST2_R 0.706 0.0793 0.557 to 0.828 NTPROBNP_R 0.672 0.0818 0.521 to 0.800 In this analysis, the only variable that had an AUC greater than 0.7 is the ST2 ratio. For the outcome of death or transplant a threshold value of 0.85 for the ST2 ratio was determined by ROC analysis to be optimal, as shown in Table 9.

TABLE 9 ST2 Ratio ROC Values Criterion Sensitivity 95% CI Specificity 95% CI +LR −LR >0.85 68.42 43.5-87.3 58.62 38.9-76.5 1.65 0.54 When these results were compared to a generally accepted threshold value for a change in NT-proBNP of 0.7 (the ROC optimal value for the NT-proBNP ratio is 0.58), the results shown in Table 10 were generated. Note that the optimal threshold value for the ST2 ratio and risk of death or transplant within 1 year was higher at 0.85 than the optimal threshold value of 0.75 for any adverse cardiac event within 1 year.

TABLE 10 Summary of patient stratification for risk of death or transplant within 1 year comparing the ST2 ratio and the NT-proBNP ratio ST2 Ratio NT-proBNP Ratio <0.85 ≧0.85 <0.7 ≧0.7 N 22 26 22 26 N Event 5 14 5 14 % Event 22.7% 53.8%   23% 54% PPV 53.8% 53.8% NPV 77.3% 77.3% RR 2.4 2.4 Although each biomarker had similar predictive strength, of the five patients identified below the threshold, only one was predicted by both biomarkers.

Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis also showed that, when considered individually in this population, the ST2 ratio and the NT-proBNP ratio were functionally indistinguishable in regards to outcome prediction, although the curve for the NT-proBNP ratio diverges early and remains divergent, whereas the curve for the ST2 ratio diverges much later. For the ST2 ratio the HR is 2.66 (p=0.0506), while for the NT-proBNP ratio the HR is 2.60 (P=0.0201).

The results obtained by Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis are slightly different. When analyzed individually the HR values were 1.94 for the ST2 ratio and 0.55 for the NT-proBNP ratio, and were almost the same when analyzed together at 2.03 for the ST2 ratio and 0.53 for the NT-proBNP ratio. The p value was not significant for either variable, at 0.176 and 0.168 respectively.

However, as was observed when events were evaluated as the outcome parameter, if the ST2 ratio was combined with the second NT-proBNP value the results of ROC analysis illustrate greater predictive accuracy using this formula, as shown in FIG. 9.

Although ROC analysis identified 3.5 as the optimal threshold, additional analysis confirms that the previously identified threshold of 3.2 provides better prognostic accuracy. The HR from Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (FIG. 10) was 6.02 (p=0.0060). The HR calculated from the Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis was very similar at 6.08 (p=0.016).

Table 11 provides a summary of relative risk calculations comparing the values previously determined for the ST2 and NT-proBNP ratios as well as the MACE risk score.

TABLE 11 Summary of patient stratification for risk of death or transplant within 1 year Death or Transplant within 1 Year NT-proBNP MACE ST2 Ratio Ratio risk score <0.85 ≧0.85 <0.7 ≧0.7 <3.2 ≧3.2 N 22 26 22 26 17 31 N Event 5 14 5 14 2 17 % Event 22.7% 53.8%   23% 54% 11.8% 54.8% PPV 53.8% 53.8% 54.8% NPV 77.3% 77.3% 88.2% RR 2.4 2.4 4.7 A simple box plot (FIG. 11) illustration confirms the distinction between the event and non-event group for the MACE risk score values. For this plot p=0.002. Note that the median values do not overlap with the 25-75% boundary. This same comparison for the ST2 ratio and the NT-proBNP ratio is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The p values for these plots are 0.017 and 0.046 respectively and the distinction between the event and no-event group is not as definitive as it is for the MACE risk score.

Conclusion

As derived from this data set, the described formula combining the ratio of ST2 values between two time points and an NT-proBNP value measured at the second time point provides the strongest and most accurate measure of risk that a patient will experience an adverse cardiac event defined as admission, transplant or death.

Example 2 Validation Analysis of the Formula Combining ST2 with NT-proBNP for MACE Risk Prediction

In the study described in this example, 150 patients hospitalized with acutely destabilized HF were followed at the Veteran Affairs Healthcare System in San Diego, Calif. Multiple cardiac-related parameters were measured, including ST2, BNP, NT-proBNP, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Plasma samples were collected at six time points between admission and discharge. Biomarker concentrations were correlated to survival at 90 days. These 150 patients were sorted further by the following criteria to optimize coordination between the various measurements that were made and the times that these measurements were made:

1. ST2 value on day 1

2. ST2 value on day 3 or later for a minimum elapsed time of 2 days

3. NT-proBNP value on the same last day as the last ST2 value

4. Alive at discharge

This sort resulted in a total remaining N of 107 patients, with 35 events, readmission or death, within 90 days and 13 of those events were deaths within 90 days. The following analysis compares the various individual measurements for accuracy in predicting mortality within 90 days and validates the formula combining ST2 with NT-proBNP.

If the biomarkers are reported by day and as a function of whether the patient survived or died there is a clear distinction over time. In patients who did not survive the values for ST2, as well as BNP and NT-proBNP increased, whereas in those patients who did survive these values decreased and remained low. In FIGS. 14-16, the median is plotted with error bars representing the 25^(th)-75^(th) percentiles.

In this analysis, by day four (three elapsed days), all three biomarkers achieved maximum separation in median values between survivors and decedents, but only ST2 and NT-proBNP were also able to achieve and maintain significant resolution not only between the median values but also between the 25^(th)-75^(th) percentile values.

ROC analysis, summarized in Table 13, affirmed this observation with maximum AUC values for each biomarker at either the individual day 4 measurement or of the change, reported as a ratio, between baseline and day 4. However, the functional strength of using the measurements from day 4 was limited in this instance because from this cohort of 107 patients there were only 60 values reported for day 4. To maximize the number of patients that were included in the analysis, a value for last (L) was obtained by taking the last value available for each patient from day 3 or later. It is noted that the AUC values for the last value were not significantly different than the values for the day 4 value from each biomarker, nor were the AUC values for the ratio of the 4:1 measurements or the L:F measurements. Consequently, for the remainder of this analysis the values used were the first (1), last (L) and the last to first (L:F) ratio.

TABLE 13 Individual AUC values from ROC analysis for mortality within 90 days AUC Death 90 BNP 1 0.602 BNP 4 0.739 BNP L 0.729 BNP R 4:1 0.684 BNP R L:F 0.684 NTproBNP 1 0.735 NTproBNP 4 0.836 NTproBNP L 0.824 NTproBNP R 4:1 0.820 NTproBNP R L:F 0.776 ST2 1 0.530 ST2 4 0.889 ST2 L 0.773 ST2 R 4:1 0.816 ST2 R L:F 0.838 BUN 0.830 FIG. 17 and Table 14 summarizes the ROC analysis for the L:F ratio values for each biomarker. In pairwise comparison none of the curves achieves statistically significant resolution.

TABLE 14 ROC analysis results of ratios for mortality within 90 days AUC SE 95% CI ST2_RL_F 0.838 0.0708 0.754 to 0.902 NT_RL_F 0.776 0.079 0.685 to 0.851 BNP_RL_F 0.684 0.0859 0.587 to 0.770 As was determined using the peptide cohort data for derivation, the mortality risk score formula result yielded a ROC analysis AUC greater than any of the individual measurements or the ratio values. The ROC analysis for this formula is shown in FIG. 18 and the ROC analysis data summarized in Table 15.

TABLE 15 MACE risk score formula ROC data for mortality within 90 days Positive group Death90 = 1 Sample size 13 Negative group Death90 = 0 Sample size 94 Area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.876 Standard error 0.0639 95% Confidence interval 0.798 to 0.931 Significance level P (Area = 0.5) 0.0001 Criterion values and coordinates of the ROC curve Criterion Sensitivity 95% CI Specificity 95% CI +LR −LR >=1.67 100.00 75.1-100.0 0.00 0.0-3.9 1.00 >3.1 100.00 75.1-100.0 42.55 32.4-53.2 1.74 0.00 >3.12 92.31 63.9-98.7 42.55 32.4-53.2 1.61 0.18 >3.52* 92.31 63.9-98.7 72.34 62.2-81.1 3.34 0.11 >3.59 84.62 54.5-97.6 73.40 63.3-82.0 3.18 0.21 >3.61 84.62 54.5-97.6 75.53 65.6-83.8 3.46 0.20 >3.62 76.92 46.2-94.7 75.53 65.6-83.8 3.14 0.31 >3.75 76.92 46.2-94.7 84.04 75.0-90.8 4.82 0.27

The ROC optimal value from this analysis was 3.52. As was noted using the peptide cohort data (see Example 1), the MACE risk score formula ROC optimal was also 3.5 but the best prognostic (mortality) accuracy was achieved with a value of 3.2 in that cohort. A basic whisker box plot (FIG. 19) shows clear resolution between the survivor and decedent groups, p<0.0001. For comparison, a whisker box plot analysis of the ST2 R L:F is similar, with a p=0.0001 (FIG. 20). As was also noted using the peptide cohort data a basic matrix analysis and relative risk calculation confirms that the MACE risk score provides the most accurate mortality prediction.

TABLE 16 Matrix and relative risk analysis of the strongest mortality prediction variables NTproBNP MACE ST2 R L:F R L:F risk score <0.85 ≧0.85 <0.7 ≧0.7 <3.5 ≧3.5 N 76 31 49 58 65 42 N mortality 3 10 2 11 1 12 % mortality 3.9% 32.3% 4.1% 19.0% 1.5% 28.6% PPV 32.3% 19.0% 28.6% NPV 96.1% 95.9% 98.5% RR 8.2 4.6 18.6 Although both the ST2 ratio and the NTproBNP ratio yielded good relative risk values, the relative risk using the MACE risk score was much higher.

Conclusion

As was determined using the peptide cohort data (Example 1) the MACE risk score formula described herein provides the greatest prognostic accuracy, specifically when the outcome parameter is mortality, as determined by ROC, hazard ratio and relative risk calculation. There is a small but likely significant difference between the threshold values in these two cohorts. The peptide cohort described in Example 1 is an outpatient group with an ST2 ratio threshold of 0.75 and a MACE risk score formula threshold of 3.2, whereas the VET cohort described in this Example 2 is an inpatient group, and the respective threshold values are 0.85 and 3.5. This difference in threshold values may be due to the difference in disease severity between inpatient and outpatient conditions or may be due to the difference in time between measurements, as there was a 2 week time frame between measurements in the outpatient cohort as compared to a 3-5 day time frame in the inpatient cohort. Shimpo et al., Circulation 109(18):2186-90 (2004), reported that ST2 values increase rapidly for the first 12 hours following a myocardial infarction. The results described in these two examples clearly illustrate that there is also a dynamic change in ST2 levels in patients with heart failure but the absolute kinetic parameters are yet to be determined.

Other Embodiments

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for evaluating the risk of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) for a subject within one year, the method comprising: performing an assay to determine a first level of soluble ST2 in a biological sample obtained from a subject at a first time point (ST2 T0); performing an assay to determine a second level of soluble ST2 in a biological sample obtained from the subject at a second time point (ST2 T1); performing an assay to determine a level of a natriuretic peptide (NP) in a biological sample obtained from the subject at the second time point (NP T1); determining a MACE risk score (MACERS) for a subject based upon, at least in part, the ratio of ST2 T1 to ST2 T0, in combination with a weighted logarithm of NP T1; comparing the MACERS determined for the subject to a reference MACERS; and identifying a subject having an elevated MACERS as compared to the reference MACERS as having an increased risk of a MACE within one year or identifying a subject having a decreased MACERS as compared to the reference MACERS as not having an increased risk of a MACE within one year.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the logarithm of NP T1 includes a natural logarithm.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the MACERS is determined using the following formula: MACERS=(ST2 T1/ST2 T0)+α ln(NP T1), wherein the coefficient α is a weighting factor for the variable it acts on.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the coefficient α is about 0.33.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the NP is N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time point is within 1-7 days of the onset of symptoms in the subject.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time point is 2 to 14 days after the first time point.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the MACE selected from the group consisting of: recurrence of an initial cardiac event, angina, decompensation of heart failure, admission for cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality due to CVD, and transplant.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with heart failure.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference MACERS is a MACERS of a subject or group of subjects having a low risk of a MACE within one year.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample obtained at the first time point or the biological sample obtained at the second time point comprises serum, blood, or plasma.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference MACERS is about 3.2.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29, a BMI of ≧30, or impaired renal function.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample obtained at the first time point and the biological sample obtained at the second time point are obtained from a subject that has been hospitalized after having an acute cardiac event.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has a pulmonary disorder or a liver disorder.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pulmonary disorder is acute infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or pulmonary embolism.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the liver disorder is a liver disorder associated with chemotherapy, alcohol toxicity, or drug toxicity.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is undiagnosed.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject exhibits one or more non-specific symptoms. 